VOL. XXIX.] I'HILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. l^Q 



from a cave or cistern, which is a pretty way up the side of the peak, and has 

 by some been thought to have no bottom. 



At g on Wednesday morning we arrived at la Stancha, about a quarter of a 

 mile above the foot of the peak on the east side, where 3 or 4 large hard and 

 solid black rocks are lodged: under some of these we put our horses, and under 

 others we lay down ourselves to sleep, after having refreshed ourselves with a 

 little wine : we had also a fire made to dress our dinner, where a cook we took 

 along with us both roasted and boiled our meat and fowls very well. We slept 

 here about 2 hours, then rose again, and at about 2 in the afternoon went to 

 dinner. 



There are several mountains that lie eastward from the peak, at 4 or 5 miles 

 distance, called the Malpeses, and one lying a little more to the southward, 

 called la montana de rejada : all which were formerly volcanoes, though not so 

 great as that of the peak, as appears by the rocks and small burnt stones that 

 lie near them, just in the same manner as about the peak. 



At 9 at night, having supped, we retired to our former lodgings to sleep. 

 Waking again about one, we arose, and by half past one we were all upon the 

 march, and leaving our horses and some of our men behind, we went away 

 fasting, excepting about two mouthfulls ot" wine each. Between la Stancha and 

 the top of the peak there are two very high mountains besides the sugar-loaf, 

 each of which mountains is almost half a mile's walking: on the first of them 

 the rubbish is small, and we were apt to slip back as we stepped upwards. But 

 the uppermost is all composed of hard loose rocky great stones, cast together 

 in a very confused order. After resting several times, we came to the top of 

 the first mountain, where we drank every one a little more wine, and ate a bit 

 of gingerbread. Then, being pretty well refreshed, we set forwards again to 

 ascend the second mountain, which is higher than the first, but is better to 

 walk on, because of the firmness of the rocks. After we had travelled for about 

 half an hour up the second jnountain, we came within sight of the sugar-loaf, 

 which before we could not see by reason of the interposition of these great 

 hills. After we were arrived to the top of this second mountain, we came to a 

 way that was almost level, but rather ascending ; and about a furlong farther is 

 the foot of the sugar-loaf, which we soon reached. Then looking upon our 

 watche§, we found it to be just 3 o'clock. The night was clear where we were, 

 and the moon shone very bright ; but below, over the sea, we could see the 

 clouds, which looked like a valley at a prodigious depth below us. We had a 

 brisk air, the wind being S. E. by S. as it was for the most part while we were 

 on our journey. 



